Animal Kingdom is a drama series based on the 2010 Australian film of the same name by David Michôd. Created by Jonathan Lisco, the series premiered on TNT on June 14, 2016 and focused on the Codys, a family of career criminals. The series feels like a mix of Peaky Blinders and The city with a little bit Sons of Lawlessness sprinkled on it.
Animal Kingdom is a great crime series with some of the best robbery scenes on television. It is action packed with fight scenes, surfing and the beautiful California coast. With the final season airing this year, it’s the perfect time to take a look at the series’ key characters.
Joshua “J” Cody
Peaky BlindersFinn Cole plays Joshua ‘J’ Cody, the youngest of the Cody family who was taken in by his grandmother after his mother overdosed. J is extremely intelligent and quickly becomes an important member of this crime family. Finn Cole is a perfect fit for this role, which strangely resembles his Michael Gray from Peaky Blinders. While both parts are eerily similar, they make it clear that Cole has no problem leading a series.
Andrew “Pope” Cody
Southland star Shawn Hatosy plays Andrew “Pope” Cody. Pope is the oldest of the Cody boys and has struggled with mental illness and OCD all his life. Pope is a tragic character who tries so hard to do the right thing, but never seems to get it. When we first meet Pope, he has returned to the family after serving three years in Folsom State Prison for a failed bank robbery. After six seasons, Pope has become a crowd favorite, and Hatosy’s stellar performance as an unhinged character is a big part of why.
Deran Cody
Deran Cody (Jake Weary) is the youngest of Smurf’s children and was a competitive surfer. Deran is kind and very loyal to his family. He’s not as quick to fight as his brothers, but he has no trouble holding his own when he has to. Deran desperately wants to escape his crime family and live a normal life, but that seems almost impossible.
Craig Cody
Craig Cody (Ben Robson) is Cody’s middle son and is the most unpredictable and the least reliable. Craig is often involved in risky behavior involving drugs and alcohol. Craig likes to socialize and often throws parties. He is very active and loves to surf with his brother, Deran, with whom Craig has a close bond.
Janine “Smurf” Cody
The incredible Ellen Barkin played Janine “Smurf” Cody, the matriarch of the Cody family. Smurf is very protective of her family and loves them so much it’s scary. Smurf runs the criminal family and teaches J everything she knows after she takes him in. Smurf is smart, tough and in control of any situation she finds herself in. Leila George plays Smurf in the flashbacks of seasons five and six, which show how she got her start as a woman who carried out robberies.
Barry “Baz” Blackwell
Scott Speedman plays Barry “Baz” Blackwell. Baz is Smurf’s adopted son and the leader of the Cody family. Baz is intelligent and doubts Smurf’s ability to do their job. He has a complicated relationship with Pope that dates back to when they were teenagers. Baz is the most level-headed of the Cody brothers and does his best to keep them from killing each other.
Julia Cody
Julia Cody (Jasper Polish) is the only daughter of Smurf and the mother of J. She became estranged from the Cody family and became addicted to drugs. Because of her relationship with her family and her struggle with addiction, J never knew the Codys and was only admitted after Julia’s overdose. Although the series heavily mentions Julia, the audience only learns about her tragic story in the last two seasons.
Renn Randall
Renn Randall (Christina Ochoa) is Craig’s on-again, off-again girlfriend and his drug dealer. Renn is a tough woman and struggles with her sobriety. She is an active person like Craig and an avid surfer. Although Renn and Craig are terrible for each other, it’s clear that they really love each other.
Animal Kingdom is a highly underrated crime series. It stands between magnitudes such as Sons of Lawlessness and Peaky Blinders but has not received the same attention. Since Amazon Prime Video started streaming the series, it has seen a massive boom in its fan base, which was just in time for the series finale which premiered on TNT on August 28, 2022. Seasons one through five of Animal Kingdom streaming on Amazon Prime, while their sixth season is currently available on the TNT app.